Researcher Highlights
Engaging men in weight loss

Dr Myles Young is committed to improving men’s health through gender targeted and sustainable weight loss programs.

To say that many Australian men would feel uncomfortable in a weight loss program mostly filled with women is perhaps something of an understatement.

However, studies show that women vastly outnumber men in almost all weight loss trials. This is a big problem, as 70 per cent of men in Australia are overweight or obese and the average male body mass index increasing at twice the international average. Men are also less likely than women to take steps to manage their weight, even though they are more likely to be obese in every age group.

Add to that traditional masculine ideas where ‘bigger is better’, a glut of poor quality food, a more sedentary lifestyle, and the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes, depression and anxiety growing proportionate to one’s girth, and it easy to see why effective and engaging weight loss strategies for men are urgently required.

Enter Myles Young from The University of Newcastle's Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition.

SHED IT

Myles’ doctoral study continued a program of work on a weight loss program designed specifically for men, called Self-Help Exercise and Diet using Information Technology, or SHED-IT.

Before designing his own intervention, Myles’ conducted a systematic review which confirmed how little international research had been done on male weight loss programs.

“After conducting a range of weight loss studies here at Newcastle we found that few men were signing up to participate,” says Myles.

“So we decided that perhaps we can get men more involved if we designed a program specifically for them.”

The program was set up predominantly to be self-help, meaning participants didn't need to attend clinical consultations and group meetings.

Resource packs including pedometers and measuring tapes for scientifically tracking progress were a drawcard, as was the option of choosing from several apps and websites to record activity.

Logbooks and health information specifically targeted at men were also provided.

“To give the men autonomy, we didn’t force them to make any particular changes. We just gave them the pack which contained a suite of resources and strategies and left them to their own devices for three months”, Myles says.

THE KEY TO SUCCESS

To appeal specifically to men, SHED-IT aligned with a socio-cultural framework for designing targeted interventions. The program was targeted to men at the surface level, with relevant pictures and an engaging design, and at a deeper level, by ensuring the program matched men’s values and preferences.

So how does using a conceptual socio-cultural framework to design a health behaviour program for men manifest in real life?

An essential ingredient is humour.

“On the recruitment flyers, we had a big picture of a schooner, and it said we will show you how to lose weight without giving up beer,” Myles says laughing.

“And that was really effective, about 600 guys called me in the first week which was really exciting.”

“We also focused on the science behind the recommendations and communicated the health information in a frank and realistic way, which we know is valued by men.”

The program was also informed by Social Cognitive Theory as a framework for long-term behaviour change.

“When designing the program, we made sure all of the elements were theory- and evidence-based rather than giving men a lot of random strategies. This is particularly important when you are helping people change their behaviour in sustainable ways.”

“In Social Cognitive Theory, the most important variable to target is self-efficacy, or their belief that you have what it takes to achieve your goals,” Myles says.

“We also targeted the men’s beliefs about the benefits of weight loss, helped them set achievable goals, and provided education around the various social and environmental factors that were going to help, or hinder, their progress.”

RESULTS

At the end of the three months, SHED-IT participants had lost an average of 7.5 kilos. They had also increased their physical activity, improved their diets, and reduced a host of risk factors for heart disease including waist circumference and blood pressure.

Notably, the participants also reported flow-on benefits in a range of other areas including reductions in depressive symptoms and improvements to erectile function.

To measure long-term changes, the participants were followed up three years later.

“One of the most important aspects of SHED-IT was that it was about sustainable weight-loss and realistic lifestyle change,” says Myles.

“Although people usually regain about 50 per cent of their weight loss in the first year after they finish treatment, the SHED-IT men kept 60 per cent after three years, which was fantastic.”

After the program concluded, Myles also tested whether providing men with an additional weight loss maintenance program made a difference to weight regain.

“In essence, we found the additional support strategies that did not make a large difference which we were surprised about. However, both groups did exceptionally well compared to other programs in the literature.”

Myles expects that the long-term success of participants was related to the importance placed on sustainable change during the program.

“We tell participants that everything that you do to lose weight, you have to be prepared to do for the rest of your life. We give them to skills and knowledge needed to lose weight without giving up all the things they love. They just learn to factor them in.”

“Plan it, don't ban it.”

REAL WORLD IMPACT

It was whilst measuring reaction time to different stimuli for his honors project in fourth year psychology that Myles recognized his future academic path.

“It was my first taste of research and I loved it. But I knew I was looking for something with more of an immediate and real world impact,” Myles says.

A research assistant position became available under Professor Phil Morgan who was running the Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids project and Myles found his calling.

“From there I have just been getting more and more inspired and enthusiastic about men's health research.”

Diabetes Western Australia is currently rolling out the SHED-IT program, and into the future, Myles hopes it will be launched around the nation.

Meanwhile, Myles himself is keen to further explore the link between weight loss and mental health improvements in men.

He is also keen to collaborate with those looking to expand this area of study.

“We are quite far behind when it comes to looking at men's health in general, but especially men’s weight loss,” says Myles.

“So the more that we can inspire, educate and learn from others, the better.”